Opinion

Greater emphasis on four key areas to strengthen advanced manufacturing

Manufacturing is the bedrock of the real economy, and advanced manufacturing is the backbone of a modern industrial system. At a national conference on advanced manufacturing recently held in Beijing, China called for adapting to the latest technological revolution and industrial transformation, with next-generation intelligent manufacturing as the primary direction. Greater emphasis should be put on digital and intelligent empowerment, high-end manufacturing and self-reliance, green and low-carbon development, and cross-sector integration, so as to strengthen the advanced manufacturing sector.

Greater emphasis on digital and intelligent empowerment is key to improving the quality and efficiency of advanced manufacturing. It is not merely about adding equipment to production lines, but about reshaping the entire chain from R&D and design to production, supply chain management, and after-sales service, thereby cutting costs, improving quality, and boosting efficiency. It also fosters new business models, drives deeper integration between digital technology and the real economy, and unleashes endogenous growth momentum in manufacturing.

Greater emphasis on high-end manufacturing and self-reliance is fundamental to ensuring steady progress of advanced manufacturing. China boasts the world’s largest and most comprehensive manufacturing system, yet shortcomings remain in some key areas. Pursuing high-end manufacturing and self-reliance is not about closing the door to the outside world. It means building on China’s industrial base, upholding open innovation, addressing weak links in the industrial chain, sharpening areas of strength, and steadily boosting the industry’s self-reliance and controllability.

Greater emphasis on green and low-carbon development is essential for transforming and upgrading advanced manufacturing. It requires a systemic change in production methods. Traditional industries such as steel, chemicals, and building materials need to achieve energy saving and carbon reduction through technological upgrading, while green industries such as new energy equipment and energy-saving and environmental protection equipment must grow rapidly to foster new growth drivers. Green and low-carbon practices should run through the entire product life-cycle.

Greater emphasis on cross-sector integration injects vitality into the expansion of advanced manufacturing. Advanced manufacturing and modern services are becoming increasingly interwoven, spurring the growth of service-oriented manufacturing and flexible customization. Manufacturing is also intersecting with AI, new materials, and other fields, giving rise to new industries and forms such as humanoid robots and the low-altitude economy. Breaking down industrial barriers and unclogging bottlenecks in the flow of production factors will foster deeper collaboration across the industrial chain and among industry, academia, research and application sectors. This will expand the value of manufacturing and nurture new growth drivers.

Policy

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently issued a national plan for agricultural mechanization development during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, specifying that by 2030, the comprehensive mechanization rate of crop cultivation and harvesting will exceed 80 percent, with the three major staple crops, i.e. wheat, rice and corn, reaching an even higher level.

2. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued opinions on advancing regulatory reform of motor vehicle emission inspection institutions and improving emission inspection quality. The document provides policy guidance for strengthening the regulatory system and promoting an all-round improvement in inspection quality, and continuously improving air quality.

Data

1. New orders for marine ships and new order value for marine engineering equipment increased by 83.7 percent and 160.8 percent year-on-year, respectively, in the first eight months of this year, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

2. The latest data released by the People's Bank of China shows that since the beginning of this year, China's financial market has been operating steadily. In the first eight months, a total of RMB 213.98 billion of panda bonds were issued, and 29 new overseas institutions entered the interbank bond market.

3. The total value of goods imports and exports in the Yangtze River Delta region reached RMB 13.16 trillion in the first eight months of this year, up 18.8 percent year-on-year, according to Shanghai Customs. The scale of goods trade in the Yangtze River Delta region hit a record high for the same period in history and has achieved positive growth for 18 consecutive months.

4. China's total retail sales of goods and services, a major indicator of the country's consumption strength, increased by 2.5 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2026, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed. The consumer market stayed stable with rising quality, as its consumption structure continued to be optimized.

5. The latest invoice data released by the State Taxation Administration shows that from January to August this year, the industrial sector made steady progress, with industrial sales revenue increasing by 7.3 percent year-on-year. In terms of broader sectors, sales revenue in mining, manufacturing, and electricity, heat, gas, and water production and supply sectors increased by 8.3 percent, 7.5 percent, and 5 percent, respectively.

6.  China's state railways handled 2.69 billion tonnes of cargo in the first eight months of 2026. The average daily freight loading stood at 187,400 wagons, ensuring fast and efficient delivery, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

7. The National Data Administration announced that China’s first data property rights registration certificates are being issued in batches. Fifty-six enterprises and institutions have received valid documents for data possession, use and operation rights.

8. On September 21, the China-Europe Railway Express Train No.1293, laden with auto parts, daily necessities and other goods, set off from Erenhot Railway Port in Inner Mongolia bound for Europe. This marks a new milestone as the trains through the China-Europe Railway Express Middle Corridor topped 3,500 trips so far this year.

9. The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) released the 2026 list of China's top 500 private enterprises in Tianjin, north China, on September 22. The top 500 private enterprises reported total operating revenue of RMB 44.93 trillion in 2025, up 4.35 percent from a year earlier.

10. A nationwide campaign, launched on September 22 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will run from late September through the end of October. Local governments in many parts of China are planning more than 20,000 cultural and tourism events and will hand out over RMB 310 million (about USD 45.9 million) in consumer vouchers and subsidies to encourage travel and spending during the campaign.

(Source: Economic Daily)